No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead, and two others critically injured as a shop collapsed in an Ebonyi community market.

It was learnt that the roof of one of the open market stalls in the market caved in on Friday evening.

The incident, it was further learnt, took place at Ekeaja Market Square, Uburu, in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, hometown of Governor David Umahi.

Governor David Umahi confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.Umahi, in the statement, which was made available by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nwaze Francis, expressed displeasure over the tragic incident.

The statement read in part, “The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has received with rude shock the disturbing and unfortunate news of the toppling of a part of the roof of one of the shades at the Ekeaja Market, Uburu, which resulted in the loss of about three lives, while two others were hospitalised.”

Umahi, who described the occurrence as catastrophic, sympathised with the families of the three persons who lost their lives.The statement added, “We have received the news of the unfortunate incident of the toppling of a part of one of the shades at Ekeaja market and the death of three persons in the incident with rude shock.

“As mortals, we cannot question God, but we pray fervently for God Almighty to grant the victims rest in his bosom and comfort their families.

“We, however, pray that God Almighty grants the hospitalised survivors quick recovery and reintegration with their

families.”

The Governor directed the police and other relevant agencies to immediately embark on a full-scale investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the incident.